U.S. to Raise Visa Bond to KSh2.56 Million as Trump Administration Makes Controversial Programme Permanent
Americans-bound travellers from dozens of countries, mostly in Africa, could soon face a visa bond of up to KSh2.56 million under a major expansion of Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
The United States is set to make its visa bond programme permanent, with the maximum amount applicants may be required to pay rising from $15,000 (about KSh1.9 million) to $20,000 (about KSh2.56 million).
The measure targets applicants seeking B1 and B2 visas, which cover business and tourism travel, and is expected to take effect on August 3, 2026.
The programme was initially introduced as a pilot scheme under the Trump administration as part of efforts to reduce visa overstays and strengthen immigration enforcement.
Under the permanent rules, consular officers will have discretion to require eligible applicants to post a bond of up to $20,000 before a visa is issued.
Importantly, the bond is not a visa application fee. It can be refunded if an application is denied or, where a visa is granted, if the traveller complies with the terms of the visa, including leaving the United States within the authorised period.
The previous system allowed officers to impose bonds of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000. The new rules eliminate the $5,000 tier and increase the maximum to $20,000.
Kenya spared — for now
The move will attract particular attention across Africa because the affected countries are predominantly African nations.
Kenya is not currently included on the list, meaning Kenyan applicants for B1/B2 visas will not be automatically subject to the new bond requirement under the current arrangement.
However, the United States has left the door open to adding more countries in the future.
The countries currently affected include Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, among others.
For travellers required to post the bond, additional restrictions may also apply, including the use of designated U.S. ports of entry and departure.
These include major airports such as Boston Logan, New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.
Trump administration defends move
The Trump administration has argued that the bond system is intended to tackle visa overstays and discourage abuse of the U.S. visitor visa system.
U.S. officials have pointed to a dramatic reduction in overstays during the pilot programme as evidence that the policy has been effective. Reuters reported that the programme is being made permanent after authorities recorded a sharp decline in visa overstays among affected nationals.
The State Department said in the notice that the policy is expected to reduce demand for B1 and B2 visas among nationals of countries covered by the programme.
“The department expects that this final rule will contribute to the continued reduction of demand for B1/B2 visa applications from nationals of countries subject to the programme.”
Critics, however, argue that requiring travellers to potentially provide thousands of dollars before being allowed to obtain a visitor visa could place legitimate travel beyond the reach of many applicants, particularly those from lower-income countries.
The change forms part of a broader Trump administration push to tighten immigration controls, increase scrutiny of foreign visitors and reduce the number of people who remain in the United States beyond the terms of their visas.
For Ugandans, Tanzanians and nationals of other affected countries, the financial stakes could now be considerably higher.
A traveller who is required to provide the maximum bond would need to have access to $20,000 — roughly KSh2.56 million — before being cleared to travel, although the money is potentially refundable if the traveller complies with the visa conditions.
The United States says the measure is designed to ensure that visitors leave the country as required.
For Kenya, the immediate impact is more limited. Kenyan citizens remain outside the current list, but the possibility of future additions means the situation will be closely watched by prospective U.S. travellers and travel agencies across the region.
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